Myra De Groot


Myra Tania de Groot was a British-born theatre and television actress, and agent. She performed in the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand and Australia.

Professional career

De Groot was born in Westminster, London, England.
With a passion for doing Shirley Temple impressions as a child, her parents enrolled her at the Italia Conti Stage School at the age of 10. At the age of 13, de Groot appeared in Annie [Get Your Gun |Annie Get Your Gun] at the London Coliseum which was her first professional West End show.
In the late 1950's, de Groot appeared in the London productions of The Pajama Game as well as Ulysses in Nighttown in which she played Kitty.
Arriving in America from Britain in 1958 she appeared in roles for most of the 1960s there, appearing on TV series including Bewitched, The Monkees, Perry Mason, and Here Come the Brides.
She performed at the noted New York Off-Broadway theatre Upstairs at the Downstairs in Ben Bagley's last revue in 1962 with Hal Buckley, Nancy Preiser and Cy Young. After leaving America, de Groot resided in New Zealand between 1972 and 1980, where she appeared in many theatre roles and the 1978 film Angel Mine. She also wrote, directed and produced stage plays.
Her latter career was based in Australia, after having emigrated there in 1980, with roles in serials The Sullivans, two roles in Prisoner and a few telemovies.
De Groot also appeared in the film Norman Loves Rose, for which she was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Her final role was in Neighbours as Eileen Clarke - a role in which De Groot appeared onscreen in the United Kingdom for fifteen months after she had died due to the fact the show aired significantly far behind the Australian airdate.

Filmography

FILM
YearFilmRoleType
1976The Park Terrace MurderMrs. RobinsonTV movie
1978Angel MineNunShort film
1981Air HawkRecurring role: Aunt EllieTV movie / TV pilot
1982Norman Loves RoseMotherFeature film
1983Zero ZeroGuest role: Mother 210TV movie

TELEVISION
YearFilmRoleType
1967BewitchedGuest roles: Hazel Carter / ReceptionistTV series, 2 episodes
1968The MonkeesGuest role: Mary FriarTV series, 1 episode
Perry MasonTV series
1969Here Come the BridesGuest role: MaudeTV series, 1 episode
1974-75Buck HouseRecurring role: Mrs. PlattTV series, 2 episodes
1978Fuller's EarthRegular role: NatalieTV series
1979The SullivansRecurring guest role: Laura WatkinsTV series
1979, 1982The Mike Walsh ShowGuest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1980Lucinda BrayfordGuest role: Lady Susannah CrittendenTV miniseries, 1 episode
1980; 1984PrisonerRecurring guest roles: Barbara Krantz / Sheila HawkinsTV series, 5 episodes
1982; 1983The Mike Walsh ShowGuest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1983; 1984The Mike Walsh ShowGuest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1984The Mike Walsh ShowGuest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1984Special SquadGuest role: Grace KiddellTV series, 1 episode
1984Carson's LawGuest role: Mrs. CameronTV series, 1 episode
1985Palace of DreamsRecurring role: SimaTV miniseries, 3 episodes
1985BarmitzvahStarring roleTV drama
1985-88NeighboursRecurring role: Eileen ClarkeTV series, 167 episodes
1987The Far CountryRecurring role: District NurseTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1987In BetweenGuest role: LilTV series, 1 episode

Theatre

De Groot acted in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia in a variety of roles on stage:
De Groot was Jewish. She was married three times.
In February 1988, it was reported de Groot had been diagnosed with cancer and had been undergoing treatment at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne.
De Groot died from cancer, aged 50 on 4 April 1988. De Groot had been undergoing treatment for eight weeks prior to her death.
After learning of her death just minutes before appearing in a live interview on the BBC's Open Air in Manchester, de Groot's Neighbours co-star Jason Donovan broke down during the interview as he paid tribute to his former colleague, stating: "It has really hit me extremely hard - we were very good friends. I can't begin to tell you how lovely she was."
Following her death, the Myra de Groot Foundation was established. De Groot had wanted the foundation to be established for the Peter McCallum Hospital, in a bid to encourage more doctors to specialise in cancer research.
De Groot's former Neighbours co-star Kylie Flinker, who had originated the character of Lucy Robinson was recognised for organising a junior theatresports night to raise money for the Myra de Groot Foundation and was subsequently presented with a certificate of appreciation by Melbourne lord mayor Winsome McCaughey.
De Groot was cremated with her ashes being placed atop of her best friend's piano.